Longde Square, Grand Commandant’s Residence.
In front of the residence—
“Do I look seriously injured?”
“Seriously. So seriously that anyone who sees your injuries would say, ‘No medicine can save him.'”
“Then do I look miserable?”
“Miserable. Far too miserable.”
“Young Master, with how you look right now, if you were left on the street, people would mistake you for a dying beggar.”
“When the Master sees your injuries, he’ll surely be heartbroken.”
Hearing his servant’s flattery, Shi Lingkuan nodded with satisfaction, limping through the gate and heading straight toward the inner residence.
After walking through the corridors and passing through buildings, a heart-wrenching cry echoed throughout the estate.
“Grandfather, save me… someone wants to kill me…”
“Grandfather, I can’t take it anymore! I’m going to die! You have to save me… he tried to kill me!”
Inside the reception hall—
Outside, the cold wind howled. Inside, it was warm as spring. The warmth came from underfloor heating and a well-lit fire. Even in midwinter, one could walk barefoot indoors without feeling cold.
Before a game board, an elderly man of nearly sixty was playing a round of Go with a refined scholar in his forties.
Upon hearing the cries, a flash of anger flickered across the old man’s brows.
The middle-aged scholar also glanced curiously toward the door.
As the shouting drew closer, a blood-covered figure stumbled into the hall.
“Grandfather, save me! Someone is trying to kill me!”
Shi Lingkuan was practically crawling.
Seeing his grandson in such a wretched state, Shi Jian was visibly shocked. The white stone in his hand dropped to the floor as he quickly got up to help him.
“You little brat… what happened to you? Who did this to you?”
He immediately began inspecting his grandson’s injuries to see if they were real. After all, this obedient grandson had faked injuries many times before.
“Hiss! Ow, ow, ow! Grandfather, be gentle! It hurts! It hurts so bad!”
Shi Lingkuan covered the gash on his face, tears streaming down.
The middle-aged man got up and calmly said, “Grand Commandant, from the look of your grandson’s injuries… they don’t seem fake.”
“Of course they’re not—” Shi Lingkuan began, but upon seeing who had spoken, quickly changed his tone. “Greetings, Father-in-law… greetings, Su Jijiu.”
This middle-aged man’s surname was Su, and “Jijiu” was his official title. He served under the Imperial College and was the highest authority in education. Though only a third-rank official, he was highly respected across the court.
The title “Father-in-law” immediately wiped the faint smile from Su Wenlang’s face, darkening it considerably.
Shi Jian glared. “You brat! Say one more word of nonsense and I’ll send you to join the army in Bingzhou!”
Shi Lingkuan shrank his neck and began crying even harder.
“In Chang’an City, under my very nose, someone dares injure you like this? They clearly don’t take me seriously.”
“Tell me—who did this to you?”
Shi Lingkuan, recalling what had happened in the palace bathhouse, burst into tears and exaggerated the story as he sobbed to his grandfather, the Grand Commandant.
“Grandfather, thank heavens I ran fast. Otherwise, that barbarian from Liangzhou would’ve beaten me to death!”
“If that happened, our Shi family would be finished. He was trying to cut off our family line!”
Shi Jian, furious at first, froze when he heard the name of the person who beat his beloved grandson—it was the Heir of Prince Min. His expression stiffened, and the anger vanished.
Su Wenlang frowned. “Wei Wuji sent his beloved son to study in the capital. That child hasn’t stepped outside the gates once in two weeks. I assumed Prince Min instructed him to behave discreetly. But to think he would act with such violence…”
Shi Lingkuan said, “Grandfather, you must get justice for me! Look at what that barbarian did to me!”
“Unless I break one of his legs, I won’t be satisfied!”
Shi Jian shouted, “Shut your mouth!”
Shi Lingkuan was startled by his roar.
Shi Jian pointed at his grandson’s nose and cursed him.
“You brat! You’ve caused enough trouble before. It’s one thing to provoke sons of minor officials. But of all people, why provoke the Heir of Prince Min?”
Shi Lingkuan was stunned.
This wasn’t the reaction he expected. He had assumed that no matter what, seeing his injuries, his grandfather would stand up for him.
Instead, he got a scolding.
Unable to accept this, Shi Lingkuan was angry. “Grandfather, I’m the one who got hurt, and you’re yelling at me?”
“No one in this house even cares! You might as well let that barbarian from Liangzhou kill me and be done with it!”
Shi Jian’s beard bristled. He raised his hand and slapped him on the head, shouting angrily.
“You dare talk back to me? You really think you’re above discipline?”
“Grandfather, you’re being unfair, and I can’t even talk back?”
Shi Jian sighed helplessly.
“Foolish child. Do you understand what fairness means? The one with power decides what’s fair.”
“That Prince Wei’s father is an independent prince with command over 300,000 elite troops. He could rebel at any moment.”
“Your father commands 200,000 cavalry at Qianshan Pass. Officially, it’s to defend against the Northern Barbarians. In reality, it’s to keep an eye on Prince Min.”
“And you? Of all people, you had to provoke his son?”
“That beating you took—consider it for nothing.”
“I may have the influence to ask His Majesty for justice, but in the end, it would just get smoothed over.”
“Even if the Emperor listens to me, there’s nothing he can do to him.”
“If something were to happen to the Heir of Prince Min in the capital, who can guarantee Wei Wuji wouldn’t march south demanding answers?”
Shi Lingkuan scoffed and muttered unhappily, “Wei Wuji is so powerful, but he still sent his son here as a hostage. If you ask me, he’s all bark and no bite.”
“Nothing… nothing at all.”
Shi Jian said sternly, “Lingkuan, you’d better remember what I said. From now on, don’t cross Prince Wei again. Do you understand?”
“I understand.”
“Good. Your grandfather and Su Jijiu have more important matters to discuss. Go get treated by the family doctor—your face mustn’t be left with scars.”
Shi Lingkuan left the hall, head lowered and dejected.
But the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
Without even treating his injuries, he went straight to the accounting room, grabbed a stack of silver notes, and left the residence with several guards.
Inside the reception hall—
A small red clay stove filled the room with warmth.
Shi Jian smiled. “Lingkuan is still immature. Please don’t take it to heart, Su Jijiu.”
Su Wenlang responded with a light smile.
That the heir of the Shi family was an arrogant good-for-nothing was common knowledge among officials. But with a Grand Commandant for a grandfather, no one dared gossip.
Shi Jian smiled again. “Su Jijiu, about the proposal I made not long ago—have you given it any thought?”
Su Wenlang’s expression tightened slightly, pretending not to understand. “What proposal, Grand Commandant?”
Shi Jian chuckled. “So many important matters—no wonder you’ve forgotten.”
“I had suggested before—your daughter is wise, talented, and graceful. She and my grandson Lingkuan are a perfect match.”
“Why not make a good marriage out of it? It would be a tale of beauty and talent.”
Su Wenlang remained composed. “It’s a wonderful idea, Grand Commandant. But my daughter Yuchan is still young—not yet of marriageable age.”
Shi Jian’s expression darkened slightly. “Su Jijiu, if I recall, your daughter is already sixteen and still unmarried.”
“According to the laws of the Great Li Empire, a girl may marry upon coming of age. Yuchan is certainly not too young.”
Su Wenlang gave a bitter smile. “Grand Commandant, you may not know—though my daughter seems gentle and composed, she is actually strong-willed and stubborn.”
“She once said that her future husband must be a famed literary genius. Otherwise, she will never marry.”
“Last year, when she came of age, I discussed marriage with her. She almost tried to end her life…”
“This… Grand Commandant, perhaps we should wait a bit longer?”
He looked completely helpless.
Shi Jian’s expression turned cold but, in the end, he could only nod.
“In that case, we’ll discuss it later.”
Su Wenlang stood and saluted. “Grand Commandant, it’s getting late. I shall take my leave.”
“Hmm. Take care, Su Jijiu.”
Su Wenlang exited the Grand Commandant’s residence, then turned to glance at the grand red walls behind him. His expression gradually darkened.
“A good-for-nothing dares dream of marrying my daughter? I’d rather die than allow it.”
“Hmph!”
With a cold snort, he stormed away.